Bubble tray



Jam 25, 1943. H. c. GLlTscH Y 309,309

` BUBBLE TRAY Filed Aug. 4, 1940 -2 sheets-sheet 1 'Patented Jan. 26, 1943 .Animation August 4, i940, sei-isi No. 351,295'

4 Claims. (Cl. 26h-114) This invention relates to new 'and useful improvements in bubble trays.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved bubble tray which is so arranged that namely, the 'iloor, risers and bubble caps, may be constructed of a corrosionresistant material, such as stainless steel without increasing the cost beyond prohibitive limits.

An important object of the invention is to pro-` vide an improved bubble tray wherein the -floor is constructed of a plurality oi sections, each section having means coacting with the risers and bubble caps, whereby the entire assembly may vbereadily assembled in a minimum time and with a minimum amount of labor.

A particular object of the invention is to prostructed of a relatively thin material and having the required riser openings therein; the material immediately surrounding the opening being exmaintain a fluid-tight seal lbetween the riserv and tray.

A particular object of vide an improved bubble having the bubble caps the invention is to protray wherein the risers A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bubble tray, of the character described, wherein ff sectional view tions and also rest upon` the i trusses i (Figure to the tie-down bolts extending therethrough. while vdisposing said bolts out o1' the way ot broad ilat surface for and havinga low'center oi workmen, the bar also presenting a relativelyl hereinafter described, 'together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood by referencevto the accompanying drawings, which an example of the wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial, transverse, vertical, sectional viewof a bubble tower, illustrating a bubble tray, constructed in accordance with the invention, mounted therein,

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the tray, e Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse, vertical,

of one section of the tray oor, a planview of the parts shown in v in invention is shown, and

Figure 4 is Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, and

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged views, illustrating modifications of the anges in the tray secshowing diierent risers mounted bubble cap thereon.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a portion of a bubble tower which has a plurality in said patent, in any bubble tower. l

The present invention .resides in the bubble tray assembly T and includes a-plurality of :door sections Il which are supported upon transverse trusses l2 kextending in parallel relation across the interior .of the tank. vEach floor section is of each section 1s spaced from the adjacent are present in -I1, whereby the cap clamped, in such spaced relation, to the trusses by bolts I3, suitable washers I4 being interposed between the bolt heads and sections. The frictional clamping and the spacing sections provide a mounting for the sections which permits the same to undergo lateral movement due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Each tray section is formed with a plurality of riser openings I5 which are arranged in longitudinal rows, asis clearly shown in Figure 2. As is well known, the riser openings are provided-in the tray floor to permit gas to rise upwardly in the tower. Since the tray oor sections are constructed of a relatively thin material and also since each section is relatively long, said sections do not have a great deal of inherent rigidity and, when the riser openings I5 are formed therein, a decrease in the rigidity of the sections results. In order to compensate for the loss of rigidity `due to the provision of the riser open'- ings and also to strengthen each section, the maprevents a lateral displacement of said cap with relation to the riser.

terial around each riser opening is extruded to form an integral annular flange I6' around the opening. As illustrated in Figure 3, the ange is at substantially a right angle to the plane of the floor section and extends upwardly therefrom. Since a flange I 6 surrounds each opening and a plurality of openings are provided in each section, it follows that a number of said flanges each section, whereby the rigidity and strength of the section is increased.

The flanges I6 not only add rigidity to the floor sections .II but also provide a means which is adapted to coact with the usual bubble cap risers I1- which are associated with each riser opening I5. Each riser I1 is tubular and has its lower end engaged over the'flange I5 with its lower edge resting upon the top of the section and, manifestly, the flange prevents lateral displacement of the riser. It is lpreferable that the internal diameter of the riser be substantially equal" to the external diameter of the flange, whereby the riser ilts snugly on the flange so as to provide a fluid :seal around the flange. Although each riser may be constructed ofl any suitable material, it is desirable that said materialbe relatively thin and corrosion-#resistant stainless steel having been found satisfactory.

Each riser I1 has its open upper end terminating at some a bubble cap I8 is arranged to be mounted on said riser.l The bubble cap is preferably constructed of a relatively thin, non-corrosive material and has a diameter which is considerably larger than the external diameter of the riser will enclose said riser. The cap is formed in the usual way, being provided with the depending annular skirt I8 and the lower end of this skirt is spaced from the tray nor. The skirt is formed with mutable vents or openings 20 which are formed in the lower portion thereof. 'I'he cap is supported on the riser I1 by means of a spider 2I, said spider being secured to the underside of the top of the cap by welding, or other suitable means. As is clearly shown in Figure 5, the spider includes a trio of 22, each of which have their outer ends cut out or recessed to provide a shoulder 23. The length of each' arm is such that that portion below the shoulder 23 is inserta'ble within the bore of the riser I1, whereby the shoulder 28 rests upon the upper edge of the risers I1. manifestly, the spider not only serves to support the bubble cap I8 in position on the riser, but also floor or section II also ing 21. A fastening nut 29 is threaded onto the As has been explained, the riser openings I5 are disposed in longitudinal rows within each section Il of the tray floor and, therefore, the bubble caps I8, when in position, are also disposed in longitudinal rows (Figure 2). For fastening the bubble caps I8 to prevent upward displacement thereof, an elongate holddown or retaining bar 24 is provided for each row of bubble caps.` This holddown 'bar is constructed of a relatively thin material and is Vformed with a relatively wide base flange 25. At its upper end, the material of which the bar is formed is turned inwardly so as to form a small flange 26 which overlies the base flange 25. The holddown element or bar` 24 4isplaced upon the bubble caps I8 in a particular row and the b'ase flange 25 rests upon or engages the top of said bubble caps. Since the base flange 25 is relatively wide, an amplified contact surface is provided between the holddown bar and-f the bubble caps.

For fastening the holddown bars 24.in a position retaining* the bubble caps I8 on their respective risers, the base flange 25 of said bar is provided with a plurality of openings 21. Each opening is located in the space between the bubble caps I8` and an elongate fastening bolt 28 which extends upwardly through the tray passes through the openupper projecting end of the bolt 28 and, when tightened on said bolt, serves to pull the holddown bar downwardly into tight engagement or contact ywith the bubble caps I8. Obviously, since the nut 29 is disposed immediately above the base flange 25, said nut is readily accessible,

distance above the tray hoor and s,

whereby manipulation thereof to fasten or release the bars 24 may be readily accomplished. Also, since the bar 24 extends upwardly above the nut, said nut is completely out of the way. 'It is pointed out thatthe small flange 26 at the upper end of the bar 24 increases the rigidity of the bar, whereby the bar may be made of a relatively thin, light material. Also, the provision of the lateral flange 26 eliminates sharp edges which might be dangerous to a Workman performing some operation on the tray.

From the above, it will be seen that a simple bubble tray assembly is provided. The tray oor is constructed of a plurality of sections, each of which is made of a relatively light, thin material.

Each section is provided with the riser openings the riser I1 and to prevent lateral displacement thereof on the tray floor. The bubble cap I8 is mounted on each riser I1, being merely placed thereon and being supported and held against lateral displacement by the spider 2| which issecured to the underside of the top of said cap. The bubble caps I8 of each row are held against upward displacement on their respective risers I1 by the improved retaining element 24 which is tied down to the iloor I I by means of the bolts 28 and nut 28. With this arrangement, a single holddown or retaining element may be provided for a plurality of the bubble caps andi it is not necessary that each cap have a separate holddown means. As pointed out, the angular construction of the holddown bar provides for maximum rigidity of the bar in both a horizontal and vertical axis. By making the bubble tray in this manner, the construction of the various parts thereof of stainless steel or other similar material is facilitated and, therefore, the entire tray may be made corrosion-resistant.

fis was pointed out above, the tubular riser preferably has an internal diameter substan-A tially equal to the external diameter of the ange i so as to have a snug engagement therewith, whereby a fluid seal is provided. However, it might be found necessary to employ a sealing gasket to seal the joint between the lower end of the riser and the ange. In such case, the riser is constructed as shown in Figure 6, being provided with. an offset or enlargement ila at its lower end. This offset snuglyengages over the fiange iti and a suitable packing gasket Sii may he interposed between the lower edge of the riser and the tray ioor to assure a positive seating o! the joint.

It is not essential to the invention that the flange i8 be disposed at a right angle to the tray floor and, in Figure 7, an inclined flange la is illustrated. This flange inclines inwardly of the riser opening l5. A riser lll has its lower end dared or inclined outwardly as shown at ll'ia and this ared portion has an inclination which is complementary to the inclination of the flange lBa, whereby the riser iii may be placed on said flange. The flange its is sufficient to prevent lateral displacement ci the lower end of the riser lill and, therefore, it is possible to employ the bubble caps ifi and holddown element 24, as shown in Figure 3.

The foregoing description o the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction. may be made. within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit o1' the invention.

What I claim andv desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bubble tray assembly including, a tray oor including a plurality of sections. each section being elongate and having a plurality of spaced openings each surrounded by a ange, riser collars having their lower ends in iluid tight connection with the flanges of the openings or said sections, bubble caps overhanging the upper ends oi said collars and supported thereon,each cap having a spider secured to the underside of its top, each spider including arms which extend from a common center and which engage the rim of the collar beneath the bubble cap, whereby said arms brace each other and support the cap in position on its collar, a element overlying said caps and immovably holding them on said collars, and means for fastening said hold-down element in place.

2. A bubble tray assembly including, a plurality of sections, each section having a plurality of spaced openings provided with riser collars open at their upper ends, bubble caps overhanging the collars and having spiders secured to the undersides of their tops, each spider including arms which extend from a common center and rwhich engage in and rest upon the upper rims of the collars, said arms functioning to brace each other and also to position the cap on the collar, a hold-down member extending across the caps and resting upon theirtops, and means for rigidly fastening said member in engagement with said caps, whereby the spiders are rigidly held on the rims oi said collars.

3. A bubble tray assembly including, a plural- .ity of sections, each section having a plurality of spaced openings provided with riser collars open at their upper ends, bubble caps overhanging the collars each cap having a spider secured to the underside oi its top which spider comprises a trio of vertically disposed radially extending bars having their inner ends permanently secured to each other whereby each bar braces the others to prevent lateral bending of said bars, the spiders of said bubble caps engaging in and resting upon the upper rims of the collars, and hold-down means associated with the caps for rigidly fastening said caps in position overhanging the collars and for rigidly holding the spiders on the rims of said collars.

4. As a sub-combination in a bubble tray assembly. a bubble cap having a closed top, a spider secured to the underside of said top, said .spider comprising a trio of vertically disposed bars which extend from the center of the top oi said cap to a point terminating short of the periphery of the cap, the inner ends of said bars abutting each other at the center of the top. and means for permanently fastening the abutting inner ends o! the bars to each other, whereby each bar braces and reinforces the other bars to prevent lateral displacement and bending of said bars.

HANS C. GLITSCH.

unitary hold-down 

